About Our Host

Photo Oliver Douliery

Dr. Pardis Sabeti is a computational geneticist. She's developed algorithms to detect the genetic signatures of adaptation in humans and the microbial organisms that infect us. One part of her current research investigates the evolutionary history of the deadly hemorrhagic disease Lassa fever, which is widespread in West Africa. Learning more about the genomes of microbes that cause diseases like Lassa, Ebola, and malaria should help in the development of treatments and cures.

Statistics is critical to all aspects of Pardis's research - from mining genomes for evidence of adaptation or association with clinical outcomes, to demonstrating the efficacy of functional experiments. She is thrilled to be part of Against All Odds and hopes to engage the next generation of scientists in the critical role statistics plays in moving science forward - and the great fun that can be had in its pursuit.

Pardis is currently an Associate Professor at Harvard University and a Senior Associate Member of the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT. She was born in Tehran, Iran and immigrated to the United States at the age of two. After receiving her undergraduate degree from MIT, Pardis continued on to Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and completed her medical degree at Harvard Medical School, where she was only the third woman to graduate summa cum laude. She's a strong supporter of women in science and science education in the U.S. and abroad. And somehow Pardis also has time to perform as the lead singer of the rock band Thousand Days.

To learn more about Pardis and her work, check out this article or video from Smithsonian Magazine.